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Nixing the Proverbial Tomorrow

So many of us are “on the go.” I’m not talking about weekend getaways or running back and forth between work/school, home and daily responsibilities, I’m thinking more along the lines of: “I’m going to go back to Weight Watchers next week,” “I’ll shop for healthier foods the next trip I make to the store,” or “I’m going to get back to waking up earlier so I have time to exercise.”

Don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly fine for us to say we’re going to do something and assigning a start date to it. What we can’t do is say we’re going to do something and not actually stick to our words. (Well, we could, but we’re not going to get anywhere.)

We’ve all been there. We set a goal and the proverbial tomorrow never really comes around; Tuesday comes and goes, next week becomes next month or maybe even next year and although the notion that getting up a half-hour early is really a good one, we allow the finger on the snooze button to become the real decider.

The start date you assign should act as the momentum you need to get the ball rolling. If you’re serious about reaching any goal you set for yourself, the first question you need to ask yourself is, “When?” My advice is to make it sooner rather than later. Strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. I’m not telling you to act on a whim but yet it won’t do you any good if you set something so far ahead that all you’re doing is buying time. That’s procrastination.

“When” begins it all.

Once you come up with a realistic time to begin making changes to your life, ask yourself, “How?” “How” is the Sherpa that will get you to the top of the mountain. Come up with the resources and tools you’re going to need and think about how you’re going to overcome potential challenges. Have a Plan A, Plan B and even a Plan W in mind as back-up. In other words, position yourself for a successful climb!

And the third question you need to answer for yourself is, “Why?” Why are you going to put in the effort and time to get what where you want to be? Nail it! Make the process of achieving your goals valuable and meaningful and focus on your “why” along your journey.

“When, how and why” will each play a huge role in your success. Answering these (and following through) will get you to the foot of the mountain, give you everything you need navigate your climb and will get you to where you want to be…no “ands, ifs or buts” about it!